Tapper bar suspension



April 1954 H. F. STEEN TAPPER BAR SUSPENSION Filed May 5, 1952 HANS F. STEEN INVENTOR,

2/. 2) 7 Affornej Patented Apr. 13,1954

2,675,292 v TAPPER BAR SUSPENSION Hans F. Steen, Jamaica, N. Y., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application'May 5, 1952, Serial No. 286,223

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means for supporting and retaining a reciprocally actuated tapper bar in a predetermined plane.

In an apparatus such as the recorder in a radiosonde receptor, it is necessary in order to obtain high speed reciprocal motion to have a supporting means which will permit the use of a lighter tapper bar than heretofore used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for supporting and retaining a tapper bar which will permit reduction of themass of said tapper bar.

It is a further object to provide a supporting means which will permit high speeds of oscillation of said tapper bar.

In-accordance withthe present-invention, there is provided means for retaining a tapper bar in a predetermined plane comprising three resilient wire attached to and passing through triangularly disposed apertures on the face of the bar in a direction substantially perpendicular to the aforementioned plane, an inverted U-shaped frame spaced from said bar and having its arms disposed -in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the tapper bar to which the ends of the wires are secured, said bar being longitudinally disposed between the arms of said frame, and spaced tubular members positioned between the bar and the frame for positioning said bar.

For a better understanding of the invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a tapper bar assembly and supporting means in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows which shows the frame, tapper bar and spaced tubular members in position. In this view, other parts of the assembly have been omitted for the purpose of clarity. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the tapper bar assembly.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a tapper bar I having three apertures such as 2, triangularly disposed on the face thereof and supporting means for retaining said bar in a predetermined plane. Bar l consists of a ferrous or other material which is responsive to a magnetic field. The tapper bar I is actuated reciprocally in a substantially vertical plane by several electromagnetic reLays 3 which when energized by an electric current, magnetically attract plates 4 integral with said bar and positioned along one of the longitudinal edges 5 of said bar. The electromagnetic relays 3 are mounted in a plane transverse to that of the tapper bar and disposed intermediate the top and bottom longitudinal edges of the tapper bar, and spaced therefrom. Electromagnetic relays 3 may be supported in position by any suitable means. When the electromagnetic relays are unenergized, they are free of contact with the tapper bar. The tapper bar assembly comprises the tapper bar I and several electromagnetic relays 3 disposed as described hereinabove, and respectively equispaced from each other along the longitudinal axis from said bar. For the purposes of clarity, four such relays are shown.

The components of the supporting means comprise at least three strong resilient wires as at G which pass through said triangularly disposed apertures 2, one aperture being disposed on the lower edge of the tapper bar between first and second electromagnetic relays reading from left to right on Fig. 1 of the drawing, a second aperture being disposed on the upper edge of the bar between the second and third electromagnetic relays as shown and a third aperture being disposed on the lower edge of the bar between the third and fourth electromagnetic relays. The word wires is to be understood to include any suitable filament like material, such as silken cord, nylon cable, etc. The ends of said wires 6 are secured to the opposing arms 1 and ll of the inverted U-shaped frame 8. Tubular members 9 are provided between the tapper bar I and the arms 1 and I! of the frame 8 for centrally positioning the tapper bar I and also for receiving the wires 6. Said opposing arms 1 and I! of the frame 8 are of different lengths and projections such as shown at It extend downwardly from the shorter arm I, said projections being opposite said lower apertures. The utilization of such projections permits the use of a shorter arm on the frame as the wires 6 passing through apertures 2 and tubular members 9 can be attached to the outer surface of said projections, thus effecting a saving of metal and providing access to the tapper bar assembly.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the tapper bar I is shown maintained in said predetermined plane by tubular members 9. The wires 6 pass through tubular members 9, tapper bar I and are secured to the outer surface of frame 8 by means of studs 1 l. Angular springy steel plates 12 are interposed between the wires 6 and the outer surface of the 3 frame and utilized as an additional device for maintaining the wires in a taut state.

Fig. 3 shows attachment of electromagnetic relays 3 to arm [1 by a rigid support 13 which is afiixed to arm I! by means of screws M.

In operation, upon the energizing of relays 3, bar I is magnetically attracted resulting in a movement: of the; bar: toward the rei'ays. During? this action, a tensile stress is placed upon wires 6 which stretch a. small amount to accommodate this movement. Deenergizing of relays 3 permits" bar I to spring back to its original position. Re.-

peated energizing and deenergizing of relays 3*for periods of very short duration accordingly resultst in a rapid reciprocal movement of bar 1.. Wires: 6 passing through triangularly disposed apertures on the face of the tapper bar and tubular members between said bar and. the opposing arms of an inverted U-shaped frame serve to holdthe tapper bar in a predetermined plane during reciprocal actuation of the bar.. The. wires. are: very strong. and of. a resilient nature and. thus can readily absorb thestrainlplacedupon them by the reciprocal movement of the bar.

The present. invention because of its simplicity of construction and elimination of parts such as springs, armature arms, doglegs, etc, is. atvery efficient device and provides a light tapper oar capable of highspeedsof oscillation While there has been described Whatis at-pres ent considered. to be av preferred embodiment of this invention it will be obvious to those. skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing; from the invention. and it is, therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover. all such modifications. as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invent-ion.

What isclaimed is 1. In a recording. apparatus, a tapper bar having at" least three apertures triangular-1y disposed therethrough, means for reciprocally actuating said bar in a predetermined plane, discrete filaments passing through said. apertures in adirection substantially perpendicular to said plane,

a member spaced from said bar to which the ends of said filaments are secured and means associated with said bar and said filaments for maintaining said bar at a substantially fixed point along each of said filaments.

2. In a recording apparatus, a tapper bar having at least three apertures triangularly disposed therethrough, means for? reciprocally actuating said bar in a pr'eeleternriiieel plane, discrete filaments passing through each of said apertures in at direction substantially perpendicular to said plane,. a U-shaped frame having its opposing arms disposed in planes substantially parallel to said. predetermined; plane and spaced from said bar'- iio which the ends of said filaments are setherethrough, means for reciprocally actuating said bar in a predetermined? plane,- discrete resilient wires passing. through said aperturesiin a.

direction: substantially perpendicular tosaid plane; a- U-shaped frame having; its opposing arms disposed in planes: substantially parallel tosaid predetermined plane and: spaced said bar. liGa which: the ends of. said wires are; secured saidv bar being disposedv in said predetermined:

plane between saidi arms; and hollowtubular members located between said ban and-said frame for positioning. said bar andreceiving. said wires.

References" Cit'erl hr the file of this patent- UNITED STATE-s Number Name Date 2,380,467 Resslei" July 31, 194-5 22413962 Finch Jan. 7", I947 21Al9'5;27l Long Jan, 24", 1950' 2,611,677 Ald el'i' Sept. 23, 19 52" 

